Article receptacle



Febwa l9351 L.. M. TODD L79L58 ARTICLE RECEPTACLE Filed June 7. 1928 INVENTOR Patented Feb. 10, 1931 STATES LIBANUS MQTODD, OE ROCHESTER, NEW YGRK ARTICLE RECEPTACLE Application led v.Tune 7, 1928. Serial No. 283,612.

This invention relates to article containers or receptacles, and more particularly to receptacles of this variety provided with means for dispensing the contained articles one or morer at a time, as may be required, one object of the invention being to provide a practical and convenient receptacle of this character adapted to contain articles such, for example, as safety razor blades, and to eject or dispense the same one by one, as required in use. f y

Another object is to provide a receptacle of the class described which is adapted not only for dispensing new razor blades or other articles, but also for receiving those which have been subjected to use.

Another object is to provide, in conjunction with such a rece tacle, a supply of razor blades having suitable wrappers or other means for protecting the same against injurious contact with each other 0r with the container. v

A further object is to provide a. convenient dispensing and receiving container of this 35 variety having means for indicating the number of articles contained at any time in the dispensin and receiving compartments.

Still a igurther object is to provide a small, reliable and eiicient means for incorporating the above advantages in a compact container of a size suitable for pocket use.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinar tions of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at vthe end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a receptacle embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing an article partially ejected from the receptacl'e.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through tbe receptacle illustrating the interior parts.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevation of the righthand end of the receptacle as shown in Fig. 1, partly broken away to show the interior parts.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the dispensing or ejecting means.

Fig. 6 isa view similar to Fig. 5 showing the parts in dierent position.

Fig. 7 shows one of the articles or razor blades with its protective covering.

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the rece tacle partly broken away to illustrate t e casing construction.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail elevation of the left-hand end of the receptacle as seen in Fig. l, showing the means for indicating the number of used articles or blades in the receptacle.

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of a modified form of the invention.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

The present embodiment of the invention is inthe form of a relatively small receptacle of a size and shape suitable for pocket use, being especially suitable in the present instance for containing safety razor blades. It is desirable in the use of a safety razor of the well known variety employing interchangeable blades to provide suitable and convenient means for containing a supply of new or fresh blades as the blades in use become dull, and also means for receiving used or discarded blades so that the latter may be thus safely disposed of and not left at large with consequent danger to those coming in contaot therewith. The present invention affords receptacle means particularly adapted to serve the above purposes, but is of course capable of various embodiments and applicable to various other uses.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the invention is shown as comprising a casing preferably of sheet metal and formed in two parts, one of which includes a top wall 1, side walls 2 and 3, and a rear end wall 4f. This part maybe termed the outer art of the casing, as it encloses the other or inner part, which latter includes a bottom wall 5, side walls 6 and 7, slidably ittin Within the side walls 2 and -3 of the outer part, and also a front end wall 8. The side walls 2 and 3 of the outer part are formed at their lower edges to provide ledges 9 and 10, which form guide ways or tracks sunporting the sides and the bottom wall of the inner part, so that the latter may telescope or slide within the outer part. t is apparent from this construction that the inner part/may be filled with a. supply of articles and then slid into operating position within the outer part.

As shown in Fig. 3, the right-hand end of the inner casing part is bent, and the margin of its bottom wall is ared slightly outwardly to provide a hp 11, whlch, together with an adjacent recess in the end wall 4 of the outer part forms a receiving slot 12 for the insert-ion of articles or blades into the receptacle adjacent its bottom wall 5. The latter has struck up therefrom a small projection or iinger 13, adapted to engage the articles from below to retain them 1n position after insertion in the receptacle. This retaining finger 13 is particularly advantageous where the receptacle is used, as illustrated in the drawings, in conjunction wlth safety razor blades of a well known v arlety having perforations or openings therein, the retaining finger for such use being located in a position to engage in one of the blade openings from below when the blade 1s fully inserted in the receptacle to prevent its withdrawal, the finger being inclined towards the front of the receptacle to facilitate this function. As later appears, suitable means are provided for maintaining suiicient downward pressure upon the used blades 1n the bottom of the receptacle to hold the latter in place and in co-operation with the retaining finger 13. Also it is to be noted that means are provided for locking the outer and inner7 casing parts together in closed position, and it is desired that such locking means be of a character which is concealed or otherwise designed to interpose some difficulty to the opening of the casing, so that when used blades have once been inserted in the receptacle they are effectively removed from access. To this end the outer casing art has its wall 2 slightly indented as shown 1n Fig. 8, and the wall 6 of the inner part is correspondingly recessed, as at 15, so that these casing portions interlock with each other when the inner casing part is slid home within the outer part. While the casing may be sprung by those fully familiar with its construction so that the parts may be separated, these parts are locked against relative movement in the hands of an ordinary user.

The article or razor blade 16 employed in conjunction with the present embodiment of the invention is shown in detail in Fig. 7.

' This blade in the present instance is of a Well known variety having perforations or openings 17 and 18 therethrough adjacent its ends. As the sharpened edge of the blade may be damaged by the slightest contact with any hard substance such as the receptacle Walls, the individual blades are preferably provided with a protective covering or wrapping, which in the present instance is in the form of a strip of paper or other suitable material slightly wider than the width of the blade, and approximately twice as long. This strip, as shown, is folded about the ends of the blades, as at 19 and 20, providing flaps 21 and 22, between which and the main body 25 of the wrapper the blade is received and protected. As shown, the wrapper eX- tends beyond the sides of the blade to protect the latter, the blade being maintained in centered position in the wrapper by means of portions or flaps 26 and 27 struck up from the Wrapper through the blade openings 17 and 18, as shown in detail in Fig. 5. As shown in Figs. 1 and 7, the wrapper is preferably marked with a number or other symbol 23 arranged to register with a sight opening 24 in the top wall of the receptacle, to indicate the number of new blades which have been dispensed or the number remaining in the receptacle, so that it may be ascertained at a glance how many blades are still available.

A device or means is provide-d for dispensing or ejecting the articles or blades one or more at a time from the receptacle, and such means may have various forms. In the present instance it is preferred to cut a slot 28, (Figs. 1, 5 and 6) in the top wall of thel receptacle casing, and to insert through and guide in the slot a stud 29 having fixed thereon outside the casing an operating head or button 30. which may be conveniently dished for operation bythe thumb or finger. The stud has fixed at its end within the casing a wedge shaped member 31 preferably beveled more or less to a point at its front end 32, for engagement with one of the openings 18 in the uppermost blade. Member 31 is moved forwardly and rearwardly the length of slot 28, and in its forward movement this pointed end 32 is adapted to depress the biade wrapper and engage in the blade opening 18, the parts being so positioned and arranged that the uppermost blade is by this operation moved forwardly a sutlicient distance to project its forward end through a dispensing slot in the casing hereafter described. Upon rearward movement of button 30, the rear end of its member 31, owing to its inclination or Wedge shape, rides over the surface of the uppermost blade to position for ejecting the nextblade, the operation of these parts being clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The dispensing slot through which the blade is ejected by the means described above is shown at 33 in the forward end of the casing and adjacent the top wall 1 of the latter. This opening or slot is preferably of such width only as to permit the passage of one sible means such as the separating element 34 (Figs. 3 and 4). This element is formed in the present instance from a sheet ot' resilient metal having its ends cut into strips 35 and 36 which are bent alternately upwardly and `downwardl as bestshown in Fig. 4. A

partition 3 is. preferably placed upon the separator, and it is apparent that the latter serves to press the supply of new blades upwardly to position for (zo-operation with the dispensing means and slot, and also to maintain the used blades in place on the bottom of the receptacle and in 'co-operation with the retaining finger 13. Various other means may, of course, be provided for separating and positioning the new and used blades, but it is to be noted that the present means, owing to its movement in the casing from side to side thereof, provides for' the automatic adjustment or accommodation of the respective compartments for the new and used blades as thesupply of new bla-des gradually withdrawn and returned as used blades to the bottom compartment. With this arrangement, therefore, the casing needs to have only the thickness of the total number of new and used blades and of the separator or follower, instead of the double thickness which would be required if separate compartments of fixed size were employed.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view of the forward end of the casing showing a sight opening 13a in the latter through which the number of used blades in the casing at any time may be ascertained. By this means, and by means of the symbols 23 on the new blades visible through the opening 24 in the top wall of the casing, the contents of the latter may be ascertained at a glance.

Fig. 10 illustrates a modified form of embodiment in which the dispensing button 30 and associated parts are replaced by an opening 38 in the top wall of the casing at the end thereof opposite the dispensing slot. This opening provides for engagement of the top blade with the thumb or linger for ejecting same.

rlhe receptacle is intended to be supplied filled with a suitable number of new blades protected by the covering or wrapper previously described. These blades are placed in the receptacle before the outer and inner parts of the latter are closed, the separating element 34 inthis case resting upon the bottom of the receptacle and maintaining the uppermost blade in linevwith the dispensing slot. The Wrapper of the upper blade has for its symbol 23 the number corresponding to the quantity of blades supplied, as, for example, the number 8 where eight blades are placed in the casing. The remaining blades are numbered consecutively from top to bottom. When the container parts are closed they are locked in such position by the means described .so that the user is unable to open the casing without considerable investigation and trouble. l/Vhen the user desires` to secure a blade, the button 30 is moved rearwardly, if not .already in such position, and is then moved forwardly as shown in F ig. 2. The latter movement brings the forward end of the wedge shaped member 31 into engagement with the topmost blade and slides the Aend of the same through the dispensing slot so that it may be grasped and withdrawn fromthe receptacle. The used blades are inserted endwise through the receiving slot 12 and thus into the bottom of the receptacle, Where they are retained by the lug 13 and the pressure of the follower 34. The new blades are thus dispensed one at a time, the number remaining in the receptacle being shown at the sight opening 24. As eachblade becomes dulled in use, instead of being discarded in a promiscuous manner and possibly left in such a location as to result in injurious consequences, it-is inserted in the receptacle and thus safely disposed of-for such further disposal as may be made of it. If desired, when the receptacle has been exhausted of new blades and vfilled with used ones it may then be returned vintact to the producer for the substitution of a supply of new blades. The receptacle is simple, convenient, and efficient in construction and operation, and of a compact size adapting it for pocket use if so desired.

I claim as my invention:

l. A razor blade receptacle adapted to be carried in t-he pocket comprising a casing having a receiving slot adjacent one side thereof adapted to have used blades inserted therein and a dispensing 'slot adjacent itsv other side for new blades and a device for ejecting the blades one at a time through said dispensing slot.

2. A razor blade receptacle adapted to be carried in the pocket comprising a casing having a receiving compartment for used blades adjacent one side thereof provided with a receiving slot through which used blades may be inserted and with means for retaining a blade inserted therein, said casing having also adjacent its other side a dispensing compartment for new blades provided with a dispensing slot and a device for ej ecting the new blades one at a time through said dispensing slot.

3. A razor blade receptacle adapted to be carried in the pocket comprising a casing having a receiving compartment for used blades adjacent one side thereof with a receiving slot through which used blades may be inserted, said casing having also adjacent its other side a dispensing compartment for new blades provided with a dispensing slot and with a sight opening for inspection of the contents of said latter compartment, and a device slidably carried by the casing for engaging and ejecting the new blades one at a time through said dispensing slot.

4. An article of manufacture comprising a casing for dispensing and receiving safety razor blades, said casing having a. slot thereon for dispensing unused blades and also a slot for receivingused blades, dispensing means for ejecting unused blades one at a time from the corresponding slot, and means for separating the used and unused blades and for maintaining the latter in co-operating relation with said dispensing means and slot.

5. A razor blade receptacle comprising a casing having a receiving slot therein adjacent one side thereof for insertion of used blades, and a dispensing slot therein adjacent the opposite side for new blades, means for ejecting the new blades one at a time through said dispensing slot and a separating element having a movement in the casing from side to side thereof between said slots to accommodate the reception of used blades through the' receiving slot at one side of said casing and the ejection of new blades through the dispensing slot at its opposite side.

G. A razor blade receptacle comprising a casing having a receiving slot therein adjacent one side thereof for insertion of used blades and a dispensing slot therein adjacent the opposite side for new blades, a resiliently compressible separator dividing said casinor into a receiving compartment for the use blades, and a dispensing compartment for the new blades and having a movement from side to side of the casing as the number of blades is increased in one compartment and decreased in another and a dispensing means for ejecting the new blades one by one through said dispensing slot.

7. A razor blade receptacle comprising a casing having a receiving slot therein adjacent one side thereof for insertion of used blades, and a. dispensing slot therein adjacent the opposite side for new blades, a separator dividing said casing into a receiving compartment for the used blades and a dispensing compartment for the new blades, re-

' taining means for retaining used blades inseited through said receiving slot and dispensing means for ejecting new blades one by one through said dispensing slot, said separator having a movement from side to side of the casing to increase the size of one compartment and decrease that of the other and provided i to maintain the blades aligned with said dispensing opening and in cooperation with said retaining means respectively.

8. The combination with a safety razor blade receptacle having a dispensing slot therein adjacent one of its sides, of a plurality of blades in said receptacle each havin an opening therein, a wrapper for each b ade having a protecting portion extended beyond the cutting edge thereof and an attaching portion engaged in said opening, a receiving slotin the receptacle adjacent the other side thereof for receiving used blades, a spring follower in the receptacle for moving said wrapped blades toward said dispensing slot, and dispensing means-for ejecting the wrapped blades one at a time through said dispensing slot.

9. The combination with a safety razor blade receptacle having a dispensing slot therein adjacent one of its sides, of a plurality of blades in said receptacle each having openings therein adjacent its ends, a wrapper for each blade having a protecting portion extended beyond the cutting edge thereof and also attaching portions engaged in said blade openings, a receiving slot in the receptacle adjacent its other side for used blades, a dispensing means on the receptacle for engaging the wrapped blades at one of the openings therein and ejecting the same one at a time through said dispensing slot, retaining means for engaging the used blades at one of the openings therein to hold the same in place in the receptacle, and a spring follower movable from side to side of the receptacle between the used and wrapped blades for maintaining the wrapped blades in co-operation with said dispensing means.

10. In a device of the class described, a casing comprising parts adapted to he moved to open position for access to the casing interior and provided with means normally locking said parts together in closed position, said casing having an-article dispensing slot therein and also a slot for the insertion of articles one at a time into an inaccessible position within the casing, and means for ejecting articles one ata time through said dispensin slot.

ll. n a device of the class described a easing comprising a part having a top, side walls and an end wall and a second part having a bottom, side walls and an end wall, said second part being slidable between the side walls of said first partto open and closed positions, means normally locking said parts together in closed position, said casing having an article dispensing slot therein and also a slot for the insertion of articles one at a time into an inaccessible position within the casing, and means forcjecting articles one at a time through said dispensing slot.

LIBANUS M. TODD. 

